by DEF » Tue May 25, 2004 4:31 am
I wouldn't worry about being over in games played at this point in the year if it's only a few games. You don't want to be cycling in marginal bench players every offday for a starter and get up 15-20 or more games over the limit. But you also don't have to stay exactly on the projected pace. The thing to remember with games-played limits is that you want to get all the games you possibly can from your best players. You don't want to use up starts early in the year for a backup if that means you can't play your stud at the end of the year.
On the other hand, remember that few players actually play 162 games a year any more. Guys will be rested occasionally or get hurt and miss some time. So it is OK to throw in a backup once in a while on an offday for your starter if your backup has a favorable matchup - playing in Coors for instance, or facing a pitcher he owns or who is really struggling, etc. As you get closer to the end of the year, if you find yourself under pace for games-played you can play the mathcup game more frequently. Don't lose starts for your studs, but don't leave any games unused either.
Another hint: if your in a daily transactions league and you know ahead of time or check before the game and find out someone isn't starting, throw them on the bench. There's nothing worse than losing a full game played for one at-bat when someone who was getting a rest ends up pinch-hitting.
Head-to-head is a completely different animal. Soem head-to-head leagues have innings limits to prevent streaming starting pitchers, but most don't have games played limits. If yours doesn't, then it definitely benefits you to fill as many of your starting spots as you can each day to maximize your stats. The only exception would be late in the week if you have a slim lead in average or ERA or another category where playing a backup could hurt more than help, then you may want to bench some or all of your guys to protect your lead (assuming your safe already in the culminitive categories).
Being active on the waiver wire isn't only fair, but essential to winning. As long as you aren't just adding and dropping guys to put them on waivers so others can't grab them, then there is nothing wrong with grabbing a hot player, even if you just put them on your bench. Whether you start them or not, it's worth grabbing the best players available as insurance for an injury or trade bait to improve your club.
As for Roberts, it really depends on the size of your league. AL-only or mixed leagues with 12 or more teams he definitely has value. In smaller mixed leagues, unless there's extra MI positions to fill to reduce the available 2B, then you might want to look for an upgrade over Roberts at 2B. With the way he's struggling of late, he could lose playing time with Hairston back. His biggest value is with his steals, but he can't do that if he doesn't get on base. If you have enough depth elsewhere, it might be worth trying to package him and another player for a better 2B while he still has decent overall numbers and good value.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
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